A new Marathon shines in Poland : The Lublin Marathon

Hello, on June 8th 2013, you’ll be organizing the Lublin Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?

Our marathon takes place in Lublin, a city in southeast Poland. Lublin is about 170 km away from Warsaw, our capital city, and about 270 km from Cracow, the former capital and one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Poland.

Currently, the quickest way to get to Lublin is to fly to Warsaw and then take a bus or train to our city. What is interesting, Lublin Airport begins operations in December this year, which means that in 2013 the city will be even more easily accessible. The full list of flight connections is unavailable yet, but you will be able to check it at http://www.airport.lublin.pl/.

How old is the race and why was it created in the first place?

The 2013 race will be the first Lublin Marathon, so you will have a chance to participate in a historic event. The idea to organize a marathon in our city was originated by a group of enthusiasts, both professional runners and amateurs, who realized it will be a great way to promote Lublin, which is called “a city of many cultures”, and make it a meeting place for runners from every corner of the globe.

With our energy and enthusiasm, we quickly managed to get the support of the local sports foundations and city authorities, so you can be sure that everything will be organized in a professional way.

Credit : Marta SienkiewiczWhat kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?

The route has not been officially confirmed yet, but one thing is sure – it will be varied and challenging! The city is located on the beautiful Lublin Upland, which means there will be some uphill and downhill stretches, though not too tough.

You will have an opportunity to run along the main streets, see the Castle and a panorama of the Old Town, run through a forest and see a large water reservoir, which is on the outskirts of the city. The route will be attested by Polish Athletic Association and there will be a professional timing system.

How many runners do you expect on Saturday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?

Judging from similar events organized in our country, we expect to draw about 1,000 runners. Lublin Marathon will be aimed both at expert runners, who expect a professional organization, attractive prizes and a strong competition, and at amateurs, who enjoy picturesque routes and simply want to have fun.

Credit : Marta SienkiewiczDo you organize other races during the Weekend? If so, on what distances?

The Marathon will be the only race during the weekend. However, before the main event we are organizing a series of four ten-kilometer races under a common name “Four tens to the Marathon”. Its purpose is to enable the runners to check their progress and to promote the idea of running. The runs will be held once every two or three months beginning from September 2012.

At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?

The climate in Poland is moderate. In June you can expect a sunny weather and a temperature around 20-25°C. Rain or strong wind is rather unlikely.

Have you planned festivities around the marathon?

Directly after the Marathon there will be a picnic where the runners will be served isotonic drinks and high-energy food. All participants will take part in a prize draw. On Saturday evening, the city becomes home to a festival called “the Night of Culture” (www.nockultury.pl). It is organized in Lublin once a year and includes all-night outdoor concerts, performances and spectacles as well as free entries to museums and galleries. The event has already gained an enormous popularity and it draws thousands of people. Our city will be vibrant with life all night long.

Credit : Jean & NathalieThe race finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Lublin before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?

We definitely recommend taking part in the Night of Culture, as it will certainly be an unforgettable experience. If you still have some time to spare, take a tour of the Old Town and see the Castle with its medieval tower and Renaissance chapel. Numerous restaurants offering local as well as world cuisine can be found at the main square of the Old Town and at adjacent streets.

In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the Lublin Marathon?

Let’s make history together!

If you have any questions concerning the race itself or any related issue, do not hesitate to contact us at info@maraton.lublin.eu.

For more information

Interview with Paweł Józwik. Paweł is part of a group of local runners, people from all walks of life, who share a common goal: organize an annual marathon in their city. Some of them run marathons regularly, while others have yet to run their first one and would like to do it in Lublin.